Coronavirus Patient Being Treated at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital

Suffolk County’s first case of COVID-19 is a patient currently being treated at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, a source with knowledge of the situation confirmed on Sunday.

County Executive Steve Bellone said on Sunday that the first patient to test positive for COVID-19 “is a male in his early 40s who is currently hospitalized and in isolation.” A source confirmed that the 42-year-old patient presented at Eastern Long Island Hospital in Greenport but was transferred to Southampton for treatment. The source said the patient is in critical but improving condition.

Mr. Bellone added that communicable disease professionals in the county have begun an investigation into how the man contracted the virus, but it appears to be “community transmission” and not from travel.

The case is not related in any way to the students housed at Stony Brook Southampton campus.

“We are continuing to work closely with the New York State Department of Health to ensure a swift and effective investigation,” Mr. Bellone said, adding, “While we continue to do all that we can to avoid a widespread outbreak, we are asking the public to do the same.” He urged anyone who is sick to stay home and contact a physician.

County officials offered no more information. Stony Brook officials declined to provide any more information and referred all inquiries to the governor’s office.